Touch pad for handheld device

ABSTRACT

A media device for storing and playing media such as audio, video or images, includes a memory device configured to store a plurality of media items in a digital format. The media device also includes a display configured to present a group of media items from the plurality of stored media items and to present a visual indicator that is capable of scrolling through the displayed group of media items in order to designate a specific media item from the group of media items. The media device further includes a touch pad configured to receive input from a sliding motion or a tapping motion of a finger. The sliding motion of the finger controls the movement of the visual indicator through the group of media items. The tapping motion of the finger selects the specific media item that is designated by the visual indicator.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/806,957, filed Jun. 5, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,333,092, issued Feb.19, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/386,238, filed Mar. 21, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,348,967, issuedMar. 25, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/188,182, filed Jul. 1, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,046,230, whichclaims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/359,551, filed Feb. 25, 2002, all of which are incorporated herein byreference.

This application is related to U.S. Patent Application No. 60/346,237,filed on Oct. 22, 2001, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

This application is also related to U.S. Design Pat. Application No.29,153,169, filed Oct. 22, 2001, and which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a media player having a touchpad. More particularly, the present invention relates to touch padshaving scrolling features.

2. Description of the Related Art

There exist today many styles of input devices for performing operationsin a consumer electronic device. The operations generally correspond tomoving a cursor and making selections on a display screen. By way ofexample, the input devices may include buttons, switches, keyboards,mice, trackballs, touch pads, joy sticks, touch screens and the like.Each of these devices has advantages and disadvantages that are takeninto account when designing the consumer electronic device. In handheldcomputing devices, the input devices are generally selected from buttonsand switches. Buttons and switches are generally mechanical in natureand provide limited control with regards to the movement of a cursor (orother selector) and making selections. For example, they are generallydedicated to moving the cursor in a specific direction (e.g., arrowkeys) or to making specific selections (e.g., enter, delete, number,etc.). In the case of hand-held personal digital assistants (PDA), theinput devices tend to utilize touch-sensitive display screens. Whenusing a touch screen, a user makes a selection on the display screen bypointing directly to objects on the screen using a stylus or finger.

In portable computing devices such as laptop computers, the inputdevices are commonly touch pads. With a touch pad, the movement of aninput pointer (i.e., cursor) corresponds to the relative movements ofthe user's finger (or stylus) as the finger is moved along a surface ofthe touch pad. Touch pads can also make a selection on the displayscreen when one or more taps are detected on the surface of the touchpad. In some cases, any portion of the touch pad may be tapped, and inother cases a dedicated portion of the touch pad may be tapped. Instationary devices such as desktop computers, the input devices aregenerally selected from mice and trackballs. With a mouse, the movementof the input pointer corresponds to the relative movements of the mouseas the user moves the mouse along a surface. With a trackball, themovement of the input pointer corresponds to the relative movements of aball as the user rotates the ball within a housing. Both mice andtrackballs generally include one or more buttons for making selectionson the display screen.

In addition to allowing input pointer movements and selections withrespect to a GUI presented on a display screen, the input devices mayalso allow a user to scroll across the display screen in the horizontalor vertical directions. For example, mice may include a scroll wheelthat allows a user to simply roll the scroll wheel forward or backwardto perform a scroll action. In addition, touch pads may providededicated active areas that implement scrolling when the user passes hisor her finger linearly across the active area in the x and y directions.Both devices may also implement scrolling via horizontal and verticalscroll bars as part of the GUI. Using this technique, scrolling isimplemented by positioning the input pointer over the desired scrollbar, selecting the desired scroll bar, and moving the scroll bar bymoving the mouse or finger in the y direction (forwards and backwards)for vertical scrolling or in the x direction (left and right) forhorizontal scrolling.

With regards to touch pads, mice and track balls, a Cartesian coordinatesystem is used to monitor the position of the finger, mouse and ball,respectively, as they are moved. The Cartesian coordinate system isgenerally defined as a two dimensional coordinate system (x, y) in whichthe coordinates of a point (e.g., position of finger, mouse or ball) areits distances from two intersecting, often perpendicular straight lines,the distance from each being measured along a straight line parallel toeach other. For example, the x, y positions of the mouse, ball andfinger may be monitored. The x, y positions are then used tocorrespondingly locate and move the input pointer on the display screen.

To elaborate further, touch pads generally include one or more sensorsfor detecting the proximity of the finger thereto. By way of example,the sensors may be based on resistive sensing, surface acoustic wavesensing, pressure sensing (e.g., strain gauge), optical sensing,capacitive sensing and the like. The sensors are generally dispersedabout the touch pad with each sensor representing an x, y position. Inmost cases, the sensors are arranged in a grid of columns and rows.Distinct x and y position signals, which control the x, y movement of apointer device on the display screen, are thus generated when a fingeris moved across the grid of sensors within the touch pad. For brevitysake, the remaining discussion will be held to the discussion ofcapacitive sensing technologies. It should be noted, however, that theother technologies have similar features.

Capacitive sensing touch pads generally contain several layers ofmaterial. For example, the touch pad may include a protective shield,one or more electrode layers and a circuit board. The protective shieldtypically covers the electrode layer(s), and the electrode layer(s) isgenerally disposed on a front side of the circuit board. As is generallywell known, the protective shield is the part of the touch pad that istouched by the user to implement cursor movements on a display screen.The electrode layer(s), on the other hand, is used to interpret the x, yposition of the user's finger when the user's finger is resting ormoving on the protective shield. The electrode layer (s) typicallyconsists of a plurality of electrodes that are positioned in columns androws so as to form a grid array. The columns and rows are generallybased on the Cartesian coordinate system and thus the rows and columnscorrespond to the x and y directions.

The touch pad may also include sensing electronics for detecting signalsassociated with the electrodes. For example, the sensing electronics maybe adapted to detect the change in capacitance at each of the electrodesas the finger passes over the grid. The sensing electronics aregenerally located on the backside of the circuit board. By way ofexample, the sensing electronics may include an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC) that is configured to measure the amount ofcapacitance in each of the electrodes and to compute the position offinger movement based on the capacitance in each of the electrodes. TheASIC may also be configured to report this information to the computingdevice.

Referring to FIG. 1, a touch pad 10 will be described in greater detail.The touch pad is generally a small rectangular area that includes aprotective shield 12 and a plurality of electrodes 14 disposedunderneath the protective shield layer 12. For ease of discussion, aportion of the protective shield layer 12 has been removed to show theelectrodes 14. Each of the electrodes 14 represents a different x, yposition. In one configuration, as a finger 16 approaches the electrodegrid 14, a tiny capacitance forms between the finger 16 and theelectrodes 14 proximate the finger 16. The circuit board/sensingelectronics measures capacitance and produces an x, y input signal 18corresponding to the active electrodes 14 is sent to a host device 20having a display screen 22. The x, y input signal 18 is used to controlthe movement of a cursor 24 on a display screen 22. As shown, the inputpointer moves in a similar x, y direction as the detected x, y fingermotion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a mediaplayer with a touch pad. It would also be desirable to provide a handheld device with a touch pad. It would additionally be desirable toprovide a touch pad that can sense and resolve angular and/or radialpositions of a moving object (e.g., finger) as it is moved in a rotatingand/or radial manner across the touch pad. That is, a touch pad that isbased on polar coordinates rather than Cartesian coordinates. It wouldbe further desirable to transform the angular or radial movements intotranslational movements in the GUI of the display screen for scrollingand other related linear actions.

The invention relates, in one embodiment, to a media player for storingand playing media such as audio, video or images. The media playerincludes a housing that encloses internally various electricalcomponents that provide computing operations for the media player. Themedia player also includes a touch pad supported by the housing andconfigured to provide one or more control functions for controllingvarious applications associated with the media player.

The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a pocket sized handheldcomputing device. The computing device includes computing hardware forproviding at least one application. The computing device also includes adisplay screen configured to display text and graphics associated withthe at least one application. The computing device additionally includesa touch pad configured to provide one or more control functions forallowing a user of the computing device to provide inputs to the atleast one application.

The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a touch pad assemblyfor use in a computing device. The touch pad assembly has a touchsensitive surface for accepting contact with an object. The touch padassembly is configured to provide polar coordinate information of theobject relative to the touch sensitive surface when the object is movedabout the touch sensitive surface.

The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a user input systemhaving a touch pad, a display and a controller. The system is configuredto convert angular or radial data associated with the touch pad intocontrol inputs associated with the display. By way of example, thecontrol inputs may correspond to translational movements associated withscrolling or other related linear actions.

The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a handheld electronicdevice for storing and playing media such as audio, video or images. Thehandheld electronic device includes a memory device configured to storea plurality of media items in a digital format. The handheld electronicdevice also includes a display configured to present a group of mediaitems from the plurality of stored media items and to present a visualindicator that is capable of scrolling through the displayed group ofmedia items in order to designate a specific media item from the groupof media items. The handheld electronic device further includes a touchpad configured to receive input from a sliding motion or a tappingmotion of a finger. The sliding motion of the finger controls themovement of the visual indicator through the group of media items. Thetapping motion of the finger selects the specific media item that isdesignated by the visual indicator.

The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a battery poweredhandheld music player. The battery powered music player includes ahousing that supports various electrical components that providecomputing operations for the music player. The battery powered musicplayer also includes a memory device disposed inside the housing andconfigured to store a plurality of songs in a digital format. Thebattery powered music player further includes a display screen providedat a first portion of a front surface of the housing and configured topresent a list of songs from the plurality of stored songs and topresent a visual indicator that is capable of linearly traversingthrough the list of songs in order to designate a specific song from thelist of songs. The battery powered music player additionally includes asingle integrated input arrangement provided at a second portion of thefront surface of the housing. The single integrated input arrangementincludes a plurality of input regions that are adjacent one another andthat provide control functions for operating the music player. At leastone of the input regions being implemented with a touch pad. Moreover,the battery powered music player includes audio output components foroutputting music associated with a selected specific song from the listof songs.

The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a battery poweredhandheld device capable of playing media. The battery powered handhelddevice includes a housing that supports various electrical componentsthat provide computing operations for the battery powered handhelddevice. The battery powered handheld device also includes a memorydevice disposed inside the housing and configured to store a pluralityof menu items. The battery powered handheld device further includes adisplay screen provided at a first portion of a front surface of thehousing, and configured to present a list of menu items and to present avisual indicator that is capable of linearly traversing through the listof menu items in order to designate a specific menu item from the listof menu items. The battery powered handheld device additionally includesan input arrangement provided at a second portion of the front surfaceof the housing. The input arrangement includes an inner input region andone or more outer input regions that provide control functions foroperating the battery powered handheld device. The outer input regionsare disposed outside the inner input region. The inner input regionincludes at least a touch pad.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of a touch pad and display.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a media player, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is top view of a media player in use, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is z simplified block diagram of a touchpad/display system, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a sensor arrangement of a touch pad, inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a sensor arrangement of a touch pad, inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a sensor arrangement of a touch pad, inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partially broken away perspective view of an annularcapacitive touch pad, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of touch pad-display processing, in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to touch pads. According to one aspect ofthe invention, a touch pad is provided on a media player to facilitateuser interaction therewith. In one embodiment, the media player is ahandheld device. According to another aspect of the invention, a touchpad is provided that can sense and resolve angular and/or radialpositions of a moving object (e.g., finger) as it is moved in a largelyrotational and/or radial manner across the touch pad. In one embodiment,the touch pad that is based on polar coordinates rather than Cartesiancoordinates. Other aspects of the invention will become apparent below.In any case, the aspects are not limiting and the various aspects of theinvention can be used separately or in combination.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference toa few preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. In the following description, numerous specific details areset forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the presentinvention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, thatthe present invention may be practiced without some or all of thesespecific details. In other instances, well known process steps have notbeen described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram of a media player 100, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention. The term “media player”generally refers to computing devices that are dedicated to processingmedia such as audio, video or other images, as for example, musicplayers, game players, video players, video recorders, cameras and thelike. These devices are generally portable so as to allow a user tolisten to music, play games or video, record video or take pictureswherever the user travels. In one embodiment, the media player is ahandheld device that is sized for placement into a pocket of the user.By being pocket sized, the user does not have to directly carry thedevice and therefore the device can be taken almost anywhere the usertravels (e.g., the user is not limited by carrying a large, bulky andoften heavy device, as in a portable computer). For example, in the caseof a music player, a user may use the device while working out at thegym. In case of a camera, a user may use the device while mountainclimbing. Furthermore, the device may be operated by the users hands, noreference surface such as a desktop is needed (this is shown in greaterdetail in FIG. 3).

Media players generally have connection capabilities that allow a userto upload and download data to and from a host device such as a generalpurpose computer (e.g., desktop computer, portable computer). Forexample, in the case of a camera, photo in images may be downloaded tothe general purpose computer for further processing (e.g., printing).With regards to music players, songs and play lists stored on thegeneral purpose computer may be downloaded into the music player. In theillustrated embodiment, the media player 100 is a pocket sized hand heldMP3 music player that allows a user to store a large collection ofmusic. By way of example, the MP3 music player may store up to 1,000CD-quality songs.

As shown in FIG. 2, the media player 100 includes a housing 102 thatencloses internally various electrical components (including integratedcircuit chips and other circuitry) to provide computing operations forthe media player 100. The integrated circuit chips and other circuitrymay include a microprocessor, memory (e.g., ROM, RAM), a power supply(e.g., battery), a circuit board, a hard drive, and various input/output(I/O) support circuitry. In the case of music players, the electricalcomponents may include components for outputting music such as anamplifier and a digital signal processor (DSP). In the case of videorecorders or cameras the electrical components may include componentsfor capturing images such as image sensors (e.g., charge coupled device(CCD) or complimentary oxide semiconductor (CMOS)) or optics (e.g.,lenses, splitters, filters). In addition to the above, the housing mayalso define the shape or form of the media player. That is, the contourof the housing 102 may embody the outward physical appearance of themedia player 100.

The media player 100 also includes a display screen 104. The displayscreen 104 is used to display a graphical user interface as well asother information to the user (e.g., text, objects, graphics). By way ofexample, the display screen 104 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD).In one particular embodiment, the display screen corresponds to a160-by-128-pixel high-resolution display, with a white LED backlight togive clear visibility in daylight as well as low-light conditions. Asshown, the display screen 104 is visible to a user of the media player100 through an opening 105 in the housing 102, and through a transparentwall 106 that is disposed in front of the opening 105. Althoughtransparent, the transparent wall 106 may be considered part of thehousing 102 since it helps to define the shape or form of the mediaplayer 100.

The media player 100 also includes a touch pad 110. The touch pad 110 isconfigured to provide one or more control functions for controllingvarious applications associated with the media player 100. For example,the touch initiated control function may be used to move an object orperform an action on the display screen 104 or to make selections orissue commands associated with operating the media player 100. In mostcases, the touch pad 110 is arranged to receive input from a fingermoving across the surface of the touch pad 110 in order to implement thetouch initiated control function. The touch pad may be widely varied.For example, the touch pad be a conventional touch pad based on theCartesian coordinate system, or the touch pad may be a touch pad basedon a polar coordinate system (the later will be described in greaterdetail below).

The manner in which the touch pad 110 receives input may be widelyvaried. In one embodiment, the touch pad 110 is configured receive inputfrom a linear finger motion. In another embodiment, the touch pad 110 isconfigured receive input from a rotary or swirling finger motion. In yetanother embodiment, the touch pad 110 is configured receive input from aradial finger motion. Additionally or alternatively, the touch pad 110may be arranged to receive input from a finger tapping on the touch pad100. By way of example, the tapping finger may initiate a controlfunction for playing a song, opening a menu and the like.

In one embodiment, the control function corresponds to a scrollingfeature. For example, in the case of an MP3 player, the moving fingermay initiate a control function for scrolling through a song menudisplayed on the display screen 104. The term “scrolling” as used hereingenerally pertains to moving displayed data or images (e.g., text orgraphics) across a viewing area on a display screen 104 so that a newset of data (e.g., line of text or graphics) is brought into view in theviewing area. In most cases, once the viewing area is full, each new setof data appears at the edge of the viewing area and all other sets ofdata move over one position. That is, the new set of data appears foreach set of data that moves out of the viewing area. In essence, thescrolling function allows a user to view consecutive sets of datacurrently outside of the viewing area. The viewing area may be theentire viewing area of the display screen 104 or it may only be aportion of the display screen 104 (e.g., a window frame).

The direct ion of scrolling may be widely varied. For example, scrollingmay be implemented vertically (up or down) or horizontally (left orright). In the case of vertical scrolling, when a user scrolls down,each new set of data appears at the bottom of the viewing area and allother sets of data move up one position. If the viewing area is full,the top set of data moves out of the viewing area. Similarly, when auser scrolls up, each new set of data appears at the top of the viewingarea and all other sets of data move down one position. If the viewingarea is full, the bottom set of data moves out of the viewing area. Inone implementation, the scrolling feature may be used to move aGraphical User Interface (GUI) vertically (up and down), or horizontally(left and right) in order to bring more data into view on a displayscreen. By way of example, in the case of an MP3 player, the scrollingfeature may be used to help browse through songs stored in the MP3player. The direction that the finger moves may be arranged to controlthe direction of scrolling. For example, the touch pad may be arrangedto move the GUI vertically up when the finger is moved in a firstdirection and vertically down when the finger is moved in a seconddirection

To elaborate, the display screen 104, during operation, may display alist of media items (e.g. songs). A user of the media player 100 is ableto linearly scroll through the list of media items by moving his or herfinger across the touch pad 110. As the finger moves around the touchpad 110, the displayed items from the list of media items are variedsuch that the user is able to effectively scroll through the list ofmedia items. However, since the list of media items can be ratherlengthy, the invention provides the ability for the user to rapidlytraverse (or scroll) through the list of media items. In effect, theuser is able to accelerate their traversal of the list of media items bymoving his or her finger at greater speeds.

In one embodiment, the media player 100 via the touch pad 110 isconfigured to transform a swirling or whirling motion of a finger intotranslational or linear motion, as in scrolling, on the display screen104. In this embodiment, the touch pad 110 is configured to determinethe angular location, direction, speed and acceleration of the fingerwhen the finger is moved across the top planar surface of the touch pad110 in a rotating manner, and to transform this information into signalsthat initiate linear scrolling on the display screen 104. In anotherembodiment, the media player 100 via the touch pad 110 is configured totransform radial motion of a finger into translational or linear motion,as in scrolling, on the display screen 104. In this embodiment, thetouch pad 110 is configured to determine the radial location, direction,speed and acceleration of the finger when the finger is moved across thetop planar surface of the touch pad 110 in a radial manner, and totransform this information into signals that initiate linear scrollingon the display screen 104. In another embodiment, the media player 100via the touch pad 202 is configured to transform both angular and radialmotion of a finger into translational or linear motion, as in scrolling,on the display screen 104.

The touch pad generally consists of a touchable outer surface 111 forreceiving a finger for manipulation on the touch pad 110. Although notshown in FIG. 2, beneath the touchable outer surface 111 is a sensorarrangement. The sensor arrangement includes a plurality of sensors thatare configured to activate as the finger passes over them. In thesimplest case, an electrical signal is produced each time the fingerpasses a sensor. The number of signals in a given time frame mayindicate location, direction, speed and acceleration of the finger onthe touch pad, i.e., the more signals, the more the user moved his orher finger. In most cases, the signals are monitored by an electronicinterface that converts the number, combination and frequency of thesignals into location, direction, speed and acceleration information.This information may then be used by the media player 100 to perform thedesired control function on the display screen 104.

The position of the touch pad 110 relative to the housing 102 may bewidely varied. For example, the touch pad 110 may be placed at anyexternal surface (e.g., top, side, front, or back) of the housing 102that is accessible to a user during manipulation of the media player100. In most cases, the touch sensitive surface 111 of the touch pad 110is completely exposed to the user. In the illustrated embodiment, thetouch pad 110 is located in a lower, front area of the housing 102.Furthermore, the touch pad 110 may be recessed below, level with, orextend above the surface of the housing 102. In the illustratedembodiment, the touch sensitive surface 111 of the touch pad 110 issubstantially flush with the external surface of the housing 102.

The shape of the touch pad 110 may also be widely varied. For example,the touch pad 110 may be circular, rectangular, triangular, and thelike. In general, the outer perimeter of the shaped touch pad definesthe working boundary of the touch pad. In the illustrated embodiment,the touch pad 110 is circular. Circular touch pads allow a user tocontinuously swirl a finger in a free manner, i.e., the finger can berotated through 360 degrees of rotation without stopping. Furthermore,the user can rotate his or her finger tangentially from all sides thusgiving it more range of finger positions. For example, when the mediaplayer is being held, a left handed user may choose to use one portionof the touch pad 110 while a right handed user may choose to use anotherportion of the touch pad 110. More particularly, the touch pad isannular, i.e., shaped like or forming a ring. When annular, the innerand outer perimeter of the shaped touch pad defines the working boundaryof the touch pad.

In addition to above, the media player 100 may also include one or morebuttons 112. The buttons 112 are configured to provide one or morededicated control functions for making selections or issuing commandsassociated with operating the media player 100. By way of example, inthe case of an MP3 music player, the button functions may be associatedwith opening a menu, playing a song, fast forwarding a song, seekingthrough a menu and the like. In most cases, the button functions areimplemented via a mechanical clicking action. The position of thebuttons 112 relative to the touch pad 110 may be widely varied. Forexample, they may be adjacent one another or spaced apart. In theillustrated embodiment, the buttons 112 are configured to surround theinner and outer perimeter of the touch pad 110. In this manner, thebuttons 112 may provide tangible surfaces that define the outerboundaries of the touch pad 110. As shown, there are four buttons 112Athat surround the outer perimeter and one button 112B disposed in thecenter or middle of the touch pad 110. By way of example, the pluralityof buttons 112 may consist of a menu button, play/stop button, forwardseek button and a reverse seek button, and the like.

Moreover, the media player 100 may also include a power switch 114, aheadphone jack 116 and a data port 118. The power switch 114 isconfigured to turn the media device 100 on and off. The headphone jack116 is capable of receiving a headphone connector associated withheadphones configured for listening to sound being outputted by themedia device 100. The data port 118 is capable of receiving a dataconnector/cable assembly configured for transmitting and receiving datato and from a host device such as a general purpose computer. By way ofexample, the data port 118 may be used to upload or down load songs toand from the media device 100. The data port 118 may be widely varied.For example, the data port may be a PS/2 port, a serial port, a parallelport, a USB port, a Firewire port and the like. In some cases, the dataport 118 may be a radio frequency (RF) link or optical infrared (IR)link to eliminate the need for a cable. Although not shown in FIG. 2,the media player 100 may also include a power port that receives a powerconnector/cable assembly configured for delivering powering to the mediaplayer 100. In some cases, the data port 118 may serve as both a dataand power port.

FIGS. 3A-3C show the media player 100 of FIG. 2 being used by a user120, in accordance with different embodiments of the invention. In allof these embodiments, the user 120 is linearly scrolling 104 (as shownby arrow 124) through a list of songs 122 displayed on the displayscreen via a slider bar 123. As shown, the media device 100 iscomfortably held by one hand 126 while being comfortably addressed bythe other hand 128. This configuration generally allows the user 120 toeasily actuate the touch pad 110 with one or more fingers. For example,the thumb 130 and rightmost fingers 131 (or leftmost fingers if lefthanded) of the first hand 126 are used to grip the sides of the mediaplayer 100 while a finger 132 of the opposite hand 128 is used toactuate the touch pad 110. As shown, the entire top surface of the touchpad 110 is accessible to the user's finger 130.

Referring to FIG. 3A, and in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention, the touch pad 110 can be continuously actuated by a simpleswirling motion of the finger 132 as shown by arrow 134. By swirling, itis meant that the finger moves in an arcuate or circular manner. Forexample, the finger may rotate relative to an imaginary axis. Inparticular, the finger can be rotated through 360 degrees of rotationwithout stopping. This form of motion may produce continuous orincremental scrolling on the display screen 104.

Referring to FIG. 3B, and in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention, the user 120 can slide his or her finger 132 radially betweenthe inner and outer perimeter of the touch pad 110. For example, thetouch pad 110 may be actuated radially as shown by arrow 140.

Referring to FIG. 3C, and in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention, the user 120 can slide his or her finger 132 substantiallytangentially from all sides of the touch pad 110. For example, the touchpad 110 may be actuated forwards and backwards as shown by arrows 136and side to side by arrows 138.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a touchpad/display system 200, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. By way of example, thetouchpad/display system 200 may be used in the media player shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. The touchpad/display system 200 utilizes a touch pad 202and a display screen 204. The touchpad/display system 200 via the touchpad 202 is configured to transform a swirling or whirling motion 206 ofan object such as a finger (as shown in FIG. 3A) into translational orlinear motion 208 on the display screen 204. In one embodiment, thetouch pad 202 is arranged to continuously determine the angular positionof an object relative to the planar surface 209 of the touch pad 202.This allows a user to linearly scroll through a media list 211 on thedisplay screen 204 by swirling the object at least partially around thetouch pad 202. For example, by moving the object between any angularpositions (e.g., 0-360) on the touch pad 202.

As shown, the touch pad 202 is divided into several independent andspatially distinct zones 210 that are positioned around the periphery ofthe touch pad 202. Any number of zones may be used. In one embodiment,each of the zones 210 represents a polar angle that specifies theangular position of the zone in the plane of the touch pad 202. By wayof ex ample, the zones 210 may be positioned at 2 degree increments allthe way around the touch pad 202. Each of the zones 210 has anassociated sensor disposed therein for detecting the presence of anobject such as a finger. The sensors may be widely varied. For example,the sensors may be based on resistive sensing, surface acoustic wavesensing, pressure sensing (e.g., strain gauge, pressure plates,piezoelectric transducers or the like), optical sensing, capacitivesensing and the like. In general, when an object approaches a zone 210,and more particularly a sensor, a position signal is generated thatinforms the media system 200 that the object is at a specific angularposition on the touch pad 202. When an object is moved between zones 210or over multiple zones 210, multiple position signals are generated.These multiple position signals may be used to determine the angularlocation, direction, speed and acceleration of the object as its movedaround the touch pad 202.

The system 200 also includes a control assembly 212 that is coupled tothe touch pad 202. The control assembly 212 is configured to acquire theposition signals from the sensors and to supply the acquired signals toa processor 214 of the system. By way of example, the control assembly212 may include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) thatis configured to monitor the signals from the sensors, to compute theangular location, direction, speed and acceleration of the monitoredsignals and to report this information to the processor 214.

The processor 214 is coupled between the control assembly 212 and thedisplay screen 204. The processor 214 is configured to control motioninputs to the display screen 204. In one sequence, the processor 214receives angular motion information from the control assembly 212 andthen determines the next items of the media list 211 that are to bepresented on the display screen 204. In making this determination, theprocessor 214 can take into consideration the length of the media list211. Typically, the processor 214 will determine the rate of movement ofthe finger such that the transitioning to different items in the medialist 211 can be performed faster when the finger is moved at greaterspeeds. In effect, to the user, the more rapid swirling of the fingerenables effective acceleration of the transitioning of the list of mediaitems 211. Alternatively, the control assembly 212 and processor 214 maybe combined in some embodiments.

Although not shown, the processor 214 can also control a buzzer toprovide audio feedback to a user. The audio feedback can, for example,be a clicking sound produced by the buzzer. In one embodiment, thebuzzer 216 is a piezo-electric buzzer. As the rate of transitioningthrough the list of media items increases, the frequency of the clickingsounds increases. Alternatively, when the rate that the finger is movedslows, the rate of transitioning through the list of media itemsdecreases, and thus the frequency of the clicking sounds correspondinglyslows. Hence, the clicking sounds provide audio feedback to the user asto the rate in which the media items within the list of media items arebeing traversed.

Additionally or alternatively, the system via the touch pad may beconfigured to transform radial motion an object such as a finger (asshown in FIG. 3B) into translational or linear motion on the displayscreen. By radial, it is meant that the object moves in a substantiallyradial direction from the center of the touch pad to an outer perimeterof the touch pad. In one embodiment, the touch pad is arranged tocontinuously determine the radial position of a finger relative to theplanar surface of the touch pad. This allows a user to linearly scrollthrough a media list on the display screen by moving the object at leastpartially between the center and outer perimeter of the touch pad. Forexample, by moving the object between a small and large radius (e.g.,0-3 cm) on the touch pad. This may also allow a user to vary acharacteristic of the media player. For example, by moving radially, theuser may be able to change the volume of sound being played on the mediaplayer (i.e., acts like a potentiometer).

Referring to FIG. 5, a radial touch pad 218 will be discussed inaccordance with one embodiment. By way of example, the touch pad 218 mayreplace the touch pad shown in FIG. 4. The touch pad 218 may be dividedinto several independent and spatially distinct ones 220 that arepositioned radially from the center 222 of the touch pad 218 to theperimeter 224 of the touch pad 218. Any number of radial zones may beused. In one embodiment, each of the radial zones 220 represents aradial position in the plane of the touch pad 218. By way of example,the zones 220 may be spaced at 5 mm increments. Like above, each of thezones 220 has an associated sensor disposed therein for detecting thepresence of an object such as a finger. In general, when an objectapproaches a zone 220, and more particularly a sensor, a position signalis generated that informs the system 200 that the object is at aspecific radial position on the touch pad 218. When an object is movedbetween zones 220 or over multiple zones 220, multiple position signalsare generated. These multiple position signals may be used to determineradial location, direction, speed and acceleration of the object as itsmoved radially across the touch pad 218.

Referring to FIG. 6, a combination angular/radial touch pad 228 will bediscussed in accordance with one embodiment. By way of example, thetouch pad 228 may replace the touch pad shown in FIG. 4. The touch pad228 may be divided into several independent and spatially distinct zones230 that are positioned both angularly and radially about the peripheryof the touch pad 228 and from the center of the touch pad 202 to theperimeter of the touch pad 228. Any number of combination zones may beused. In one embodiment, each of the combination zones 230 representsboth an angular end radial position in the plane of the touch pad 228.By way of example, the zones may be positioned at both 2 degrees and 5mm increments. Like above, each of the combination zones 230 has anassociated sensor disposed therein for detecting the presence of anobject such as a finger. In general, when an object approaches acombination zone 230, and more particularly a sensor, a position signalis generated that informs the system 200 that the object is at aspecific angular and radial position on the touch pad 228. When anobject is moved between combination zones 230 or over multiplecombinations zones 230, multiple position signals are generated. Thesemultiple position signals may be used to determine location, direction,speed and acceleration of the object as its angularly and radially movedacross the touch pad 228. The angular and radial zones may be initiatedat the same time or they may be initiated at different times. Forexample, the angular zones may be initiated for scrolling through amedia player and the radial zones may be initiated for varying thevolume of a media player.

It should be noted that although the touch pads of FIGS. 4-6 are allshown as circular that they may take on other forms such as othercurvilinear shapes (e.g., oval, annular and the like), rectilinearshapes (e.g., hexagon, pentagon, octagon, rectangle, square, and thelike) or a combination of curvilinear and rectilinear (e.g., dome).

Furthermore, in order to provide higher resolution, a more complexarrangement of zones may be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, thetouch pad 238 may include angular and radial zones 240 that are brokenup such that consecutive zones do not coincide exactly. In thisembodiment, the touch pad 202 has an annular shape and the zones 240follow a spiral path around the touch pad 202 from the center to theouter perimeter of the touch pad 202.

FIG. 8 is a partially broken away perspective view of an annularcapacitive touch pad 250, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention. By way of example, the annular capacitive touch pad250 may correspond to the touch pad of FIG. 2. The annular capacitivetouch pad 250 is arranged to detect changes in capacitance as the userswirls an object such as a finger around the touch pad 250. The annularcapacitive touch pad 250 is also arranged to detect changes incapacitance as the user moves their finger radially across the touch pad250. The annular capacitive touch pad 250 is formed from various layersincluding at least a label layer 252, an electrode layer 254 and acircuit board 256. The label layer 252 is disposed over the electrodelayer 254 and the electrode layer 254 is disposed over the circuit board256. At least the label 252 and electrode layer 254 are annular suchthat they are defined by concentric circles, i.e., they have an innerperimeter and an outer perimeter. The circuit board 256 is generally acircular piece having an outer perimeter that coincides with the outerperimeter of the label 252 and electrode layer 254. It should be noted,however, that in some cases the circuit board 256 may be annular or thelabel 252 and electrode layer 254 may be circular.

The label layer 252 serves to protect the underlayers and to provide asurface for allowing a finger to slide thereon. The surface is generallysmooth so that the finger does not stick to it when moved. The labellayer 252 also provides an insulating layer between the finger and theelectrode layer 254. The electrode layer 254 includes a plurality ofspatially distinct electrodes 258 that have positions based on the polarcoordinate system. For instance, the electrodes 258 are positioned bothangularly and radially on the circuit board 256 such that each of theelectrodes 258 defines a distinct angular and radial position thereon.Any suitable number of electrodes 258 may be used. In most cases, itwould be desirable to increase the number of electrodes 258 so as toprovide higher resolution, i.e., more information can be used for thingssuch as acceleration.

When configured together, the touch pad 250 provides a touch sensitivesurface that works according to the principals of capacitance. As shouldbe appreciated, whenever two electrically conductive members come closeto one another without actually touching, their electric fields interactto form capacitance. In this configuration, the first electricallyconductive member is one or more of the electrodes 258 and the secondelectrically conductive member is the finger of the user. Accordingly,as the finger approaches the touch pad 250, a tiny capacitance formsbetween the finger and the electrodes 258 in close proximity to thefinger. The capacitance in each of the electrodes 258 is measured bycontrol circuitry 260 located on the backside of the circuit board 256.By detecting changes in capacitance at each of the electrodes 258, thecontrol circuitry 260 can determine the angular location, direction,speed and acceleration of the finger as it is moved across the touch pad250. The control circuitry 260 can also report this information in aform that can be used by a computing device. By way of example, thecontrol circuitry may include an ASIC (application specific integratedcircuit).

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of touch pad-display processing 300, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. The touch pad-displayprocessing 300 allows a user to interact with a graphical user interfaceof a computing device. The touch pad-display processing 300 generallybegins at block 302 where at least one control object is displayed onthe graphical user interface. By way of example, the control object maybe a slider bar that highlights information from a list in a menudisplayed on a graphical user interface on a display screen. Thedisplayed control object is generally controlled by the processor 214illustrated in FIG. 3. Following block 302, the touch pad-displayprocessing proceeds to block 304 where a user input is received. Theuser input may be received by the processor 214 illustrated in FIG. 3.In one embodiment, the user input is an angular referenced input, as forexample, a user input produced by a rotational user action such as afinger swirling across the touch pad. By way of example, the touch padmay correspond to the touch pad illustrated in FIG. 3. In anotherembodiment, the user input is a radial referenced input, as for example,a user input produced by a radial user action such as a finger radiallymoving across the touch pad. By way of example, the touch pad maycorrespond to the touch pad illustrated in FIG. 4.

Following block 304, the touch pad-display processing proceeds to block306 where the angular or radial referenced user input is converted intoa linear referenced input. The conversion may be implemented by theprocessor 212 illustrated in FIG. 3. Following block 306, the touchpad-display processing proceeds to block 308 where control object ismodified in accordance with the linear referenced input. For example,the control object such as a slider bar may be linearly moved from afirst item to a second item on a list or it may be moved throughmultiple items on a list (e.g., scrolling). The modification isgenerally implemented when the processor 214 illustrated in FIG. 3supplies the linear referenced input to the graphical user interface onthe display screen.

The various aspects of the invention described above can be used aloneor in various combinations. The invention is preferably implemented by acombination of hardware and software, but can also be implemented inhardware or software. The invention can also be embodied as computerreadable code on a computer readable medium. The computer readablemedium is any data storage device that can store data which canthereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computerreadable medium include read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs,DVDs, magnetic tape, optical data storage devices, and carrier waves.The computer readable medium can also be distributed over a networkcoupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is storedand executed in a distributed fashion.

Furthermore, although a scrolling feature is described, it should benoted that a scrolling feature is not a limitation and that the touchpad may be used to manipulate other features. For example, the touch padmay be used to adjust a volume control in an audio application. Inaddition, the touch pad may be used to advance through frames in a moviein video editing applications. The touch pad may also be used in videogame applications.

The advantages of the invention are numerous. Different embodiments orimplementations may yield one or more of the following advantages. Itshould be noted that this is not an exhaustive list and there may beother advantages which are not described herein. One advantage of theinvention is that a user is able to easily and rapidly traverse atlengthy list of media items. Another advantage of the invention is thata substantial portion of the touch pad is accessible to the user, i.e.,the touch pad provides a large surface area for manipulation thereof.Another advantage of the invention is that the touch pad can becontinuously actuated by a simple swirling motion of a finger, i.e., thefinger can be rotated through 360 degrees of rotation without stopping.Another advantage of the invention is that the touch pad provides morerange of finger positions. For example, a left handed user may choose touse one portion of the touch pad while a right handed user may choose touse another portion of the touch pad. In essence, the touch pad is moreergonomic. Another advantage of the invention is that the touch padmakes the media player more aesthetically pleasing. Another advantage ofthe invention is that the touch pad allows an intuitive way to scroll ona display screen. For example, the user can manipulate the his or herfinger side to side for horizontal scrolling and the user can manipulatehis or her finger backwards and forwards for vertical scrolling.

While this invention has been described in terms of several preferredembodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents, whichfall within the scope of this invention. For example, although theinvention has been described in terms of an MP3 music player, it shouldbe appreciated that certain features of the invention may also beapplied to other types of media players such as video recorders,cameras, and the like. Furthermore, the MP3 music player describedherein is not limited to the MP3 music format. Other audio formats suchas MP3 VBR (variable bit rate), AIFF and WAV formats may be used.Moreover, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to handhelddevices. For example, the touch pad may also be used in other computingdevices such as a portable computer, personal digital assistants (PDA),cellular phones, and the like. The touch pad may also be used a standalone input device that connects to a desktop or portable computer. Itshould also be noted that there are many alternative ways ofimplementing the methods and apparatuses of the present invention. Forexample, although the touch pad has been described in terms of beingactuated by a finger, it should be noted that other objects may be usedto actuate it in some cases. For example, a stylus or other object maybe used in some configurations of the touch pad. It is thereforeintended that the following appended claims be interpreted as includingall such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A battery powered handheld electronic device thatstores and plays media such as audio, video or images, the handheldelectronic device comprising: a memory device configured to store aplurality of media items in a digital format; a display configured topresent a group of media items from the plurality of stored media itemsand to present a visual indicator that is capable of scrolling throughthe displayed group of media items in order to designate a specificmedia item from the group of media items; and a touch pad comprising asingle continuous touch surface configured to receive input from arotational sliding motion through 360 degrees of rotation withoutstopping and a tapping motion of a finger, the rotational sliding motionof the finger controlling the movement of the visual indicator throughthe group of media items, the tapping motion of the finger selecting thespecific media item that is designated by the visual indicator.
 2. Thehandheld electronic device as recited in claim 1 further comprising: aplurality of buttons configured to receive input from a finger pressingthereon, the button functions controlling various aspects of thehandheld electronic device, the functions of the buttons being distinctfrom the functions of the touch pad.
 3. The handheld electronic deviceas recited in claim 2 wherein the buttons are disposed about the touchpad.
 4. The handheld electronic device as recited in claim 3 wherein thebuttons are adjacent one another and the touch pad.
 5. The handheldelectronic device as recited in claim 4 wherein tangible surfaces areprovided between the buttons and touch pad so as to physically definetheir boundaries.
 6. The handheld electronic device as recited in claim2 wherein there are at least four buttons.
 7. The handheld electronicdevice as recited in claim 6 wherein the buttons include at least a menubutton, play/stop button, forward seek button and a reverse seek button.8. The handheld electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein thetouch pad is recessed below a surface of a housing of the handheldelectronic device.
 9. The handheld electronic device as recited in claim1 wherein the touch pad is circular.
 10. The handheld electronic deviceas recited in claim 9 wherein the circular touch pad is annular andwherein the width of the annularly circular touch pad is capable ofreceiving tangential and swirling sliding motions.
 11. The handheldelectronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the sliding motion ofthe finger also controls the volume of audio being outputted by themedia device.
 12. The handheld electronic device as recited in claim 1,further comprising a plurality of buttons that completely surround thetouch pad.
 13. A battery powered handheld music player, comprising: ahousing that supports various electrical components that providecomputing operations for the music player; a memory device disposedinside the housing and configured to store a plurality of songs in adigital format; a display screen provided at a first portion of a frontsurface of the housing, and configured to present a list of songs fromthe plurality of stored songs and to present a visual indicator that iscapable of linearly traversing through the list of songs in order todesignate a specific song from the list of songs; a single integratedinput arrangement provided at a second portion of the front surface ofthe housing, the single integrated input arrangement including aplurality of input regions that are adjacent one another and thatprovide control functions for operating the music player, at least oneof the input regions being implemented with a touch pad comprising asingle continuous touch surface configured to receive a rotational userinput through 360 degrees of rotation without stopping and a tappingmotion of a finger, the rotational user input controlling the movementof the visual indicator through the list of songs, the tapping motion ofthe finger selecting the specific song that is designated by the visualindicator; and audio output components for outputting music associatedwith a selected specific song from the list of songs.
 14. The musicplayer as recited in claim 13 wherein the at least one of the inputregions is also configured to provide control functions for adjustingthe volume of the music being outputted by the music player.
 15. Themusic player as recited in claim 13 wherein the remaining input regionsare configured to provide control functions for adjusting the volume ofthe music being outputted by the music player initiating menu,play/pause, previous, and next commands.
 16. The music player as recitedin claim 13 wherein the input arrangement is circular.
 17. The musicplayer as recited in claim 13 wherein the input arrangement isrectangular.
 18. The music player as recited in claim 13 whereintangible surfaces are provided at the boundaries of the input regions soas to physically define their position within the input arrangement. 19.A battery powered handheld device capable of playing media, comprising:a housing, that supports various electrical components that providecomputing operations for the battery powered handheld device; a memorydevice disposed inside the housing and configured to store a pluralityof menu items; a display screen provided at a first portion of a frontsurface of the housing, and configured to present a list of menu itemsand to present a visual indicator that is capable of linearly traversingthrough the list of menu items in order to designate a specific menuitem from the list of menu items; and an input arrangement provided at asecond portion of the front surface of the housing, the inputarrangement including an inner input region and one or more outer inputregions that provide control functions for operating the battery poweredhandheld device, the outer input regions being disposed outside theinner input region, the inner input region including at least a touchpad, wherein the one or more outer input regions comprise a plurality ofbuttons that completely surround a perimeter of the touch pad.
 20. Thebattery powered handheld device as recited in claim 19 wherein the innerinput region provides control functions for at least controlling thevisual indicator and selecting a menu item from the list of menu items.21. The battery powered handheld device as recited in claim 20 whereinthe outer input regions provide control functions for initiatingcommands in the battery powered handheld device.
 22. The battery poweredhandheld device as recited in claim 19 wherein the inner input regionfurther includes a button integrated within the touch surface of thetouch pad.
 23. The battery powered handheld device as recited in claim19 wherein the input arrangement is circular.
 24. The battery poweredhandheld device as recited in claim 19 wherein the touch pad is recessedbelow the outer surface of the housing.
 25. The battery powered handhelddevice as recited in claim 19 wherein the outer input regions areconfigured to surround the perimeter of the inner input region.
 26. Thebattery powered handheld device as recited in claim 19 wherein tangiblesurfaces are provided at the boundaries of the inner and outer inputregions so as to physically define their position within the inputarrangement.
 27. The battery powered handheld device as recited in claim19 further comprising an audio feedback device disposed inside thehousing, and configured to provide audio feedback in conjunction withmovement of the visual indicator as it traverses through the menu list.28. The battery powered handheld device as recited in claim 19 whereinthe input arrangement includes at least four outer input regions. 29.The battery powered handheld device as recited in claim 19 wherein theouter input regions include at least a first input region associatedwith a menu command, a second input region associated with play and stopcommand, a third input region associated with a forward seek command anda fourth input region associated with a reverse seek command.
 30. Thebattery powered handheld device as recited in claim 19, wherein thetouch pad is configured to receive input from a sliding motion and atapping motion of a finger, the sliding motion of the finger controllingthe movement of the visual indicator through the group of menu items,the tapping motion of the finger selecting the specific menu item thatis designated by the visual indicator.